phil_m
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Everything posted by phil_m
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I don't know... You could argue that a unit that had an issue show up early on may be less likely to have an issue in the future simply because it was sent back, repaired and underwent more extensive testing than new units. Usually, with electronics, you're dealing with discrete components anyway, so theoretically, a unit that received a new board shouldn't be any less likely to fail than another one. It would be interesting to see the actual data. My wife has saved quite a bit of money buying refurbished lenses from Nikon for her DSLR over the years. She hasn't had any issues with them.
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Why would you need to change the reference to Eb? The tuner is chromatic so just tune everything a half step lower.
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Yes, the Zuma will work. You'll just need to get one of the adapter cables with the smaller barrel - one of these guys: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/truetone-l6-converter-for-the-1-spot?cntry=us&source=3WWRWXGP&gclid=CMaVwfHbs9ICFRAtaQodUa8DFw&kwid=productads-adid^156727059247-device^c-plaid^267531919113-sku^151691000000000@ADL4MF-adType^PLA You'd probably want to set the output you're using to 12V. 9V would work, but 12V will be better for the DL4 in the long run.
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I have two EX-1s still, and they both still work. I think I got the first one in 2000, when I got my MM4. I bought another in 2002 or so... They've been mounted on pedalboards, thrown in gig bags, stepped on, kicked, etc, and they're still working fine. I did buy two Mission Engineering pedals for the Helix, but mainly for the stability of a heavier pedal. The EX-1 are much-maligned, but they aren't really fragile. I actually think those EX-1s might be some of the oldest pieces of gear I own. They've been used with multiple generations of other Line 6 gear that's been sold off or put in storage.
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The stuff at the very end? That's actually a from the Air (M-Audio) VIP synth/keys/etc. plug-in package. It's one of the Rhodes presets and some other motion pad preset... I really didn't even change those presets at all. Musician's Friend had the M-Audio CTRL49 controller a SDOD last month for $200, and I picked it up. It was really incredible deal considering the plug-ins it came with. Just a dumb pun that popped into my head while reading the news... I could have used the word "extreme" instead of "heavy", but that's too obvious... :) I also thought of calling it "Heavy Vetting Zoo"...
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This is something you should open a support ticket for. It's a hardware issue, not a bug. http://line6.com/support/tickets/add.html
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Forum world and real world are different places... As far as bass players, there's only been a couple I've played with over the years who've used an any effects at all, and those that did mainly stuck to compression and chorus. I mean, obviously, there's some demand for these effects, because they are still being made by some companies. It's interesting, though, isn't it, that hardly anyone makes a dedicated bass multi-fx pedal anymore.
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Yeah, I've never thought it was for a lack of processing that Line 6 hasn't developed these sorts of things. Nor do I buy the somewhat-conspiracy type thinking that it's because they want people to buy a Variax. I just think that it's low on their list of priorities, and overall the number of people asking for it is relatively small. I think it's kind of a niche effect. Really, how many popular guitar songs are there that use pitch shifting? As a percentage basic, it has to be tiny. I'm actually surprised EHX has done as much with it as it has, in a way.
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I recorded this over the last few days, and from the perspective of the Helix, there's a lot going on. The heavier rhythm parts are using the Ubershcall model with the V30 4x12 IR from the Allure pack. The main lead parts are using the Archon Lead model with that same IR. I use the Archon Clean model on the clean parts. The verse section uses the 2204 Mod model. Bass is using one of the factory bass presets just tweaked ever so slightly. Guitars are a Les Paul Standard, Fender Strat Plus, and a Tele with Lollar Vintage T pickups. Anyway, I'm pretty happy with the tones on this. It's kind of a departure for me, as I have never used the high gain models that much. I guess I always thought of myself as a pedals and amp type of player, and tend not to use amp gain as much. But I thought these tones turned out much clearer and sit in the mix more nicely than other stuff I've done. https://soundcloud.com/phil-miller-20/heavy-vetting
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The Rectoverb has a parallel effects loop... The Helix doesn't have a "dry kill" feature for use with parallel loops, but the workaround is to set the mix in the effect to 100%, and control the amount of wet by using the level control in the block.
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Wah and Whammy on Exp 1 and Exp 2 (onboard foot pedal) w/ autoengage?
phil_m replied to guitarhiromu's topic in Helix
I think using snapshots should be a viable workaround. You can now save the state of the on-board expression pedal in a snapshot as either EXP1 or EXP2, so if you have the wah assigned to EXP1 and have it set to auto-engage with EXP1 that won't affect the whammy if you have both its functions set to EXP2 in another snapshot. I think the only drawback is that you'll only have access to either one in any given snapshot. Beyond that, getting an external expression pedal is really the only way to go. If it were me, I'd just get the pedal, as it would probably be much less confusing in a live situation. -
Set the 1/4" outs to instrument level and turn the big volume knob all the way up, and you'll be at unity gain for effects-only use. It works great.
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Helix doesn't currently have MIDI clock sync, but it will once the 2.20 firmware is released something within the next month. Triggering snapshot changes with the tempo changes in each snapshot as mentioned above is a decent workaround for now. It depends on how tight you need to have the syncing. The Helix's tempo would still be from its internal clock this way, so it won't necessarily match exactly with Pro Tools, and beyond that the LFO won't be aligned with anything. That might not matter, though, depending on the type of music you're recording.
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Yep... This is almost exactly what I said on a thread about this pedal on TGP. I used to have the B9, and I still have the Mel9, and I like the sounds these pedals can produce. But they're really kind of unnecessarily hamstrung by not having the ability to save presets. Even if you could save a preset for each instrument along the rotary dial, that would be helpful; but you can't even do that. So I pretty just always stick to one machine the whole time. If they managed to combine into a TimeLine-esque multi-FX pedal that offered MIDI control, it would be amazing. I don't know that EHX has ever made anything that's MIDI controllable, though.
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Cents
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When you say the Helix footswitches stop working do you mean for everything, or just for MIDI commands? This may be a dumb question, but do you have the CC messages you're using set up in every patch you're using?
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Sounds like you're downloading the actual flash file for the firmware, and not the installer package for the editor. The OS X installer package for the editor (just called "Helix", btw) is here: http://line6.com/getrelease?rid=7277&uid=416571
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Funny I just saw the other thread you posted in, and I just realized I gave nearly the identical answer in that thread back in November... I have no memory of typing that response though. :)
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If I'm understanding correctly, you're saying that in both these snapshots, you have the EXT AMP saved to be the same thing. I think that's the whole issue. If you change snapshots, regardless of the state the relay is actually in, the snapshot will only fire the relay if you're coming from a snapshot which has the relay saved in a different state. I believe this is probably the designed behavior. Whether or not it could be made to look at the actual state and then decide to change, I don't know. I don't see why not.
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Garbage is currently touring running all guitars through Helices, going direct. Lincoln Brewster is another guy who comes to mind. Twelve Foot Ninja, of course... Pete Thorn uses a Helix-based board for one of his touring rigs (although more as effects-only, I believe). Devin Townsend has been doing stuff with a Helix... Those are just a few of the top of my head. There are others here and many that aren't listed there. I mean, the Helix has been available for about 18 months now, so it's not as if touring guitarists are necessarily looking to change their rigs immediately. But the user base, both professional and amateur is going to continue grow. The thing that's great about Helix, imo, is it's not just an amp modeler. It's also a very functional and flexible multi-fx unit and MIDI controller that can be incorporated easily into existing rigs. I'm sorry it didn't work out for you. Personally, I think having a little more patience with it would have been rewarding for you, but you made your decision. No need to insult or belittle those who are happy with it as inferior guitarists with poor taste.
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- harsh
- digital clipping
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There's quite a few on relatively major tours right now... But here's the thing. When you make this sort of disparaging comment, which is really quite insulting, are you really surprised that people are reacting negatively towards you. The fact is your ears are not the gold standard for anything but you. No one is justifying anything other than the fact that the modeled amps very well may have some characteristics that aren't always desirable, and Line 6's position has always been to include these things in the model. They do make original, more idealized models. Have you tried the new Litigator model, for instance? That is Line 6's take on an idealized mid-gain amp model, where they tried to minimize the less desirable aspects of these sorts of amps and emphasize other parts.
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The question is whether or not the original amps Line 6 modeled exhibit the behavior. If they do, then the Helix is more successful at meeting the stated goal, I suppose. You're not the first person who've brought up this topic, though. There were a few people on TGP who mentioned it. Oddly enough, the one who first brought it up just re-bought the Helix... I guess it really becomes a question of how big a deal it really is and whether it's worth being bothered by. If it's something that no one would hear in a real world application, why does it matter. I'd also say that some amount of inherent fizz in necessary and good for guitar tones to properly cut through a mix (Cliff Chase from Fractal has said the same thing, btw). The line isn't entirely clear on what is undesirable and what is good, though. The big thing, though, is that hearing a Helix through headphones or monitors isn't the same sort of experience as simply listening to an amp in the room. It can never be. It's modeling a whole signal chain. So that is inherently going to be more complicated than simply plugging into an amp.
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I'm not sure if you're actually checking this thread any more, or if you've moved on... I just had a thought - I don't think anyone asked, but are you running the latest firmware on the Helix? There was a bug in one of the early firmware version that made the default on all the cab blocks the SM57 at 1". That can actually be a harsh sounding mic on many of the cabs, so I'm kind of wondering if that's what you're hearing. Other than that, I guess I'd say I'm just skeptical that something so obviously glaring would be inherent in the Helix, given that there are thousands of them out there being used at the moment, and there are tons of wonderful clips around. So to me, that means it only something you can hear, which I find somewhat unlikely, it's some sort of quality that you're picky about and other people aren't (perhaps possible), or there's something wrong with your Helix's firmware or hardware (more likely). But like I said, without clips, it's kind of a moot point. We can't help you unless you let us.
